Cottage Style Today

I love the pretty simplicity of cottage style. The simplicity of white and slipcovered furnishings, beadboard walls or ceilings and the pretty little accent pieces.

The blue in this cottage room (from BHG's "Cottage Style Today" feature) is very similar to the blue we used in our basement guest bedroom. We have added a few more rustic touches in keeping with our love of farms and western elements, but I think the feel is similar. Well, it will be when we replace the grey wall to wall carpeting!
I have enjoyed some recent posts from a few of my favourite blogs about pampering your guests with personalized trays of hygiene items they may have forgotten. We are fortunate to have a whole guest suite in our basement (that we originally made as a suite for my parents.) It is still a work in progress as we take out the kitchen and update the flooring, but for now we have the luxury of a large bedroom, full bathroom, tv room and exercise area for us to spread out or for guests to enjoy. It is a real luxury having a bathroom with all the little necessities our guests may need during their stay.

It does have a great shower, but unfortunately not this awesome tub or light from the window! I so love the beautiful beadboard.
Our sitting/t.v. area in the guest suite is not as roomy or bright as this great space. But I do have some of the feel with signs, unique pieces and and homemade touches like quilts and pillows. When we get around to replacing the flooring I will be sure to post pics of our basement guest space. For now, we and our guests will continue to enjoy it, with a few tweaks here and there of course!

All images:BHG

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Cottage Style Today

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Met. Monday - Rearranging Accessories

Thanks to Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for again hosting this wonderful event. It is one of my favorites. I love to see all the wonderful things everyone is doing. Be sure to check out her blog for a list of all the participants. You won't want to miss a one.


When we retired we downsized to a home almost half the size of the previous one. There is not a lot of decorating going on here, mostly just trying to make things fit. This was a new house, so not a lot of remodeling either. I painted and did drapes when we first moved in, so for now we are done. Mostly what I can do at this point is play with accessories. When I lived in Oregon my home was decorated with a lot of primitives. I still have a few furniture pieces and a LOT of accessories that I can't seem to part with even though that isn't the style of this house. I love to use some of these antique things in my kitchen, so from time to time I switch things around.


This is a picture of what the kitchen has looked like for a while now.


Then I shared this wonderful new rooster cloche that my son got for me. I put a bunch of faux apples in it and had it sitting on the breakfast room table and used it in this tablescape. I thought it would be fun to play with it and see what else I could put in it.


I pulled out a small antique granite coffee pot, a couple of faux eggs and a tiny antique tin of coffee and decided that I liked it. I placed it on the island where I previously had my black speckled rooster sitting.


I stood back and took a look and decided this just didn't do what I wanted it to do.


So off to look for more things and then to do something in the corner of the counter. I like this a whole lot better. I think it is a lot more interesting.


A few more tin cans, a wire chicken and eggs, a painted recipe box and it started to come together.


This looks better and it goes really well with my Grandmother platter.


A couple more tins and 2 old syrup pitchers fit really well on top of the breadbox that my Mother made for me. I use it to hold recipe books. The speckled rooster on the side works out great.


The coffee grinder was on the back counter, but I like it on the island for a change. Now I like the new look for something different. Very country looking, but things that I had such fun collecting with my best friend many years ago, so they bring back precious memories of time spent with her.


I think this will be fun to live with for a while, and then I can always just change it again.


Do you change out your accessories often? I have so many treasures that I love to play with and changing things around seems to always give me something new to look at. Ok, I am also shamelessly promoting the "Cloche Party" on Sept. 11th. Don't forget to get all your containers ready and be sure to get out all your stuff and play.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I always look forward to your visits. I hope you'll come again soon. We're leaving in a few days for Oregon, so I will be gone for a week. See you when I get back.

Hugs, Marty

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Met. Monday - Rearranging Accessories

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Meeting Arizona Bloggers

What a super fun day we had. Yesterday several of us who live in Arizona got together at a really cute Tea Room called Gooseberries for lunch. I was so busy visiting and meeting everyone that I forgot to take pictures of the really cute Tea Room, but you can see in the background in the pictures how cute it was. None of us had ever met one another, but of course since we're all bloggers, it was instant love and friendship. I think I can safely say that everyone had a wonderful time. The talk and the laughs were non-stop. If you get the chance to meet fellow bloggers, by all means do it, you will have the best time.


From left to right, Me - Charlotte - Debbie - Mary - Michele - Sherry and Donetta in the middle.



If you don't know these ladies, please stop by and say hello to them. You will love them.
In this pictue we have from left to right - Charlotte-At Home in Scottsdale, then Debbie-Heart Choices, then Mary-Pile of Smiles. Aren't they gorgeous ladies, and don't you just love their blog names.



In this picture we have Michele-Beelieve You Can, then Sherry-Country Wings in Phoenix, then Donetta-A Life Uncommon. Their blog names really represent them so well too. Such sweet and friendly ladies.


Michelle got everyone together, she's unfortunately moving to Pennsylvania, however that really doesn't matter, because friendships are for anywhere you live in blogland. What a super day, I just had a ball. Thank all of you ladies for such a perfect and fun day.




Hugs, Marty

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Meeting Arizona Bloggers

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Tablescape Thurs. - Cool White

Thanks to our gracious hostess Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch it's time for another fun Tablescape Thurs. Be sure to go see what she has created for today and all the other wonderful tablescapes everyone has to offer. I'm sure you will find wonderful eye candy and great inspiration.

Today I am using all cool white with just a touch of blue.



I'm using my grape soup tureen that I found at the GW with Dollar Tree flowers as part of the centerpiece.


The darling birdbaths are from Michaels clearance aisle and make wonderful candleholders. The gracious lady came from Ross and the stemmed artichoke was on the clearance aisle at Homegoods.


The pierced birds were also on the clearance aisle of Michaels and the stemmed bird came from Marshalls.


A closer look at the birdbath. The fancy kitty came from the GW.


The blue and white placemats and napkins are the only color I've used on the table. Both came from Homegoods. Each place is set with the famous Gibson dishes from Big Lots and the charger is Roscher found at Homegoods.


The grape patterned milkglass goblets I found at the GW. I was at the right place at the right time, just as they were putting them out. There were 6 of them.


Each place is also set with a pretty white ceramic bell that I found at Dollar Tree. There were 4 different ones and I just had to have all 4.








For the past few months I have been collecting white accessories, so I just shopped the house and found a lot of things for a tablescape.


Shop your house, I know you have tons of things that can be used at the table. It is such fun to use your treasures in a different way.



Thanks so much for stopping by. I always love to have you visit. I hope you'll come back soon.


Hugs Marty

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I love fresh flowers

I love getting fresh flowers. Sometimes I pick some up from the grocery store by the small bundle.


Sometimes hubby brings leftover flowers destined for the trash home from work. These lovely white flowers were easily rearranged from one huge floral arrangement into three casual vases. I love the beauty and freshness they add to our home.
 

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Met. Monday - Vintage Things

Thanks to Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for again hosting this wonderful Metamorphosis Monday. Be sure to check out her blog to see what she's been up to and to find a list of all the other participants. You're sure to find some wonderful inspiration and creative ideas.

In my last post I set the date for the next "Cloche Party". Since most of you wanted to have one seasonally, I thought Sept. 11th would be a great date to introduce the Fall season and our fall decorations. I have been trying to make the rounds to let everyone know, but I was disappointed to see that Mr. Linky doesn't still display all the participants in the last party, so I really need to rely on all of you again to spread the word. A big huge thank you to everyone for posting the button on your sidebar. Anyway, I thought maybe I would try to change one of my cloches to give an idea of how versatile they are. While it is not decorated for fall, it is fun to play with. Show us some of yours before fall too.

Below are two pictures that I showed in the last "Cloche Party" using one of my cloches. Just a simple vignette with flowers and a small bird figurine.




This is the same cloche I used for a tablescape simply filled with roses.


I decided to change it up and use a few of my favorite vintage things. Pearls, cameos, vintage jewelry, lace and a rose.


The cameo shell is one that we brought back from a trip to the Bahamas. The two pins were my mothers. The pearls are costume jewelry that I love to wear, and a single rose and small lace doily finishes the arrangement.


Just some vintage memories displayed on an end table, but it makes me smile to see it.



Thanks so much for stopping by. I will try to work on some ideas for fall. Dust off all your cloches and apothecary jars and start to think about your fall creative ideas. The stores are already full of fall decorations, so now is the time to find whatever you need. It also makes me think cooler too. lol It is so hot right now, but eventually fall will be here and cooler temperatures. See you at the party. Be sure to post the Cloche Party button on your sidebar to remind you and to let all your friends know. Thanks, I appreciate it.

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Another "Cloche Party" - September 11 th

Yea!!! Let's have another "Cloche Party". Most of you voted to have a party seasonally, so I thought maybe Sept. would be a good time to do a Fall event. That is only eight weeks away, so if you're like me I need to start thinking now about how to decorate all my cloches and apothecary jars.

If you want inspiration you can click here to see the unbelievably gorgeous participants in the last party. We had 120 people participate and each and every one of them had something gorgeous and unique to show us. Browse through a few of them for some great eye candy and ideas.

Remember, it doesn't have to just be a cloche, apothecary jars are part of the fun too. In the last party we had cloches made out of all different kinds of material ( glass, chicken wire, wicker, iron and all kinds of things). The apothecary jars were also done in different materials. It was so much fun to see how creative everyone is.

So, dust off all those containers and rev up all your creative juices and get ready for the next party. I can hardly wait to see what you create. I will have Mr. Linky up on the evening of Sept. 10th, so be sure to link up so everyone can find you.

See you there. Be sure to post the button announcing the party on your sidebar and tell all of your friends. This will be such fun.



Hugs, Marty

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Tablescape Thurs. - Bringing the Outdoors In

Yea, today is Tablescape Thursday. This is the day we get to play with all of our dishes, such fun. This wonderful event is hosted by the gracious Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch. Be sure to see another one of her gorgeous tablescapes and a list of all the other participants. I know you will be in awe at the gorgeous tables.

Today I am using the fun Chicken Wire Lantern Cloche that I found at Ross. I've decided to do a little vignette inside. I'm practicing for the upcoming "Cloche Party" in Sept. Don't forget to round up all of your cloches and be prepared to join the party.


I've used a tray that I also found at Ross to hold my little vignette.



A branch from the yard, a birdnest, a few tiny roses and a sweet little bird sitting in the branch. Looks like the little guy is watching over his eggs.



A couple of his bird friends are playing in the grass amid the ivy and roses. Two candles for ambiance and the tray vignette is complete.



It's already been up to 116 here, so I wanted to bring a little of the outdoors in. It is just too hot to be outside.



An overhead view of the table.



I used a tablecloth with tulips to help bring even more of the outdoors in.



Each place setting is set with Dollar Tree wine and goblet, everyday Rogers flatware, napkins from GW, Yellow Federal dishes from GW and rattan place mats that I've had for years.


Thanks so much for stopping by. Practice with those cloches if you have one, or continue the hunt if you don't. Our next party is just a little over a month away. Don't forget that apothecary jars qualify too. I can hardly wait to see everyone's creations. It's been a really busy week and I havn't been able to make all the rounds and thank everyone for your wonderful comments about my guest post with Kathysue. I was so thrilled to have her as a guest and she was really tickled with all the sweet and gracious comments. Thanks for giving her such a beautiful welcome.

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